Was it all in my head?

[Rainbowl]

I recently started taking MJ again and it’s not working for me yet.

I first took it in March 2024 after some amazing support and encouragement on here. I was a super responder. It worked immediately and I had no appetite, no food noise, no cravings and felt absolutely amazing. The weight started falling off and I had no side effects.

I fell pregnant so had to stop, but was keen to start again after I finished breastfeeding. It’s only been a few weeks and it’s not working. At all.

2.5mg did nothing so I moved up to 5mg. One dose of that so far and still, no effect. No side effects either. If anything, I’m eating more.

I don’t know what’s driving the extreme difference in how I’ve responded. This time, I obviously have postpartum hormones in the mix (16 weeks pp) so that might explain some of it.

However, I wonder whether there is also a mindset / mind over matter / even placebo effect to explain it. The first time I started on MJ I was so excited. I looked forward to injection day. I was on here every day talking to others in the same position. I really paid attention to how it was working for me. Was really listening to my body.

I’m not doing and of that this time. I’m so busy and exhausted, I sometimes forget it’s injection day until the end of the day. I don’t spend time on this board. I don’t listen to my body. I’m just mindlessly taking it and hoping it’ll kick in.

Not much point to this other than to share and see if anyone has any thoughts?

Also I do understand it’s not a magic wand and you’re meant to still put the effort in, so I’m not moaning that it’s not doing that. I’m more just curious that it is so different to last time which was effortless as I didn’t actually diet at all.

Congratulations on your little one!! There are several possible reasons I would imagine. Neither of which are anything to do with your head.

First, your body has been through a lot of hormonal changes with the pregnancy which could be having an impact.

Second, your body will have got used to the peptides previously so is unlikely to react until higher doses this time around. It is quite a common effect for people returning after a break from my understanding.

Perhaps the cortisol you are producing because you are exhausted is counteracting the GLP. Lack of sleep elevates your cortisol levels and this drives you to eat - it's a powerful hormone.

Personally, I'd stop, enjoy your baby and when you are in the same mindset as previously then start again.

Having a young child is exhausting in itself more so if they don't sleep and pregnancy and child birth and associated hormones are flying through your body so go easy on yourself.

Congratulations on your wee one.

I think 4 months pp is a very tricky time. I always felt that being pp/looking after newborn got gradually harder from birth until 4 months then starts to get gradually easier again - I think you use up the last of your reserves etc. If you're 16 weeks pp now you must have been less than 12 weeks pp when you started. I think your body is probably still very busy prioritising repair, healing & stabilisation just now so probably prompting you to look for nutrition/energy. Plus broken sleep makes losing weight all but impossible for me.

So I don't think it means it was a placebo effect before but I do think it means there are more challenges just now because you (& your body) have different priorities with a newborn/pp.

What would you say to a friend who was in your situation? I think I'd be encouraging my friend to eat good nutritious food & take care of themselves and leave the MJ for a few more months down the line.

Are there studies on the use of weight loss injections during the initial postpartum period when hormones are settling?